Lord to become chairman of Sky Arts

Lord St John of Fawsley has been appointed chairman of Sky Arts.

Currently chairman of the Royal Fine Art Commission Trust and previously chairman of the Royal Fine Art Commission, he was also a non-executive director of BSkyB from 1991 to 2006.

He is also the only person to have held the post of Arts Minister twice, once under Edward Heath and then again under Margaret Thatcher.

Lord St John said: “I am delighted to have been given this splendid opportunity by Sky to further appreciation, knowledge and opportunities to view Arts programmes. Television and the Arts are made for each other: the visual is all. The Arts on television is one of the great growth areas of the future."

Forthcoming highlights on the channel, formerly known as Artsworld, include a season of Mozart’s operatic works in high definition and an evening of programming dedicated to the life and work of Salvador Dali.

Sophie Turner Laing, BSkyB’s managing director, entertainment, said: “Lord St John is one of the most distinguished supporters of the arts in this country and I am delighted that he has taken up the position of chairman of Sky Arts. His knowledge and experience will make a valuable contribution to Sky Arts as it extends its commitment to arts programming and develops partnerships with arts organisations around the UK.”